Cutaneous zygomycosis caused byAbsidia corymbifera in a leukemic patient

Abstract

A case of cutaneous zygomycosis caused by Absidia corymbifera in a leukemic patient submitted to chemotherapy is reported. The lesion was located on the little finger of the right hand and probably resulted from a latent osteomyelitis. It progressed to form extensive necrotic area. No systemic infection was detected and the lesion did not appear to be associated with any trauma.

Zygomycetes in Human Disease

“…Several cases of A. corymbifera infection have occurred in bone marrow or solid-organ transplant recipients (102,188,217,262,278,431,433,479). A. corymbifera infections in cancer or leukemia patients have also been described (47,140,188,268,399). The widespread use of chemotherapeutic agents, immunosuppressive therapy (including prednisone), and broad-spectrum antibiotics probably play a contributory role in promoting fungal infections in these patients.…”

“…Lopes et al (268) described an unusual case in (206) and in two patients who had undergone bone marrow transplantation (217,262). Rhinocerebral and facial zygomycosis with A. corymbifera has been found in several patients (278,279,399,433).…”

“…Both the underlying host condition and the portal of entry dictate the form of mycotic disease, with cutaneous, rhinocerebral, pulmonary and gastrointestinal sites being affected most often. Depending on the status of the host, dissemination may occur from these sites (175,268,392,431). Host characteristics associated with the published cases of absidiomycosis include immunocompromise from a variety of causes.…”

Successful treatment of invasive gastric mucormycosis in a patient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis: A case report

“…The clinical manifestation of mucormycosis has been traditionally divided into six major forms, namely, rhinocerebral, pulmonary, cutaneous, GI, disseminated and miscellaneous (including endocarditis, osteomyelitis and renal infection) (2,3). The common sites of mucormycosis have been reported as the sinuses (39%), lungs (24%), skin (19%), brain (9%), GI tract (7%) and the kidneys (2%), in addition to disseminated infection (3%) (1).…”

“…Rhizopus , Mucor and Rhizomucor are the genera of Mucorales that are most frequently identified in human infections (1). Based on the clinical presentation and involvement, mucormycosis is classified as six major forms, namely, rhinocerebral, pulmonary, cutaneous, gastrointestinal (GI), disseminated and miscellaneous (2,3), with rhinocerebral and pulmonary being the common forms. GI mucormycosis is rare, accounting for only 7% of all cases; however, the mortality rate is as high as 85% (1).…”